Author Resources
Here are some helpful resources for authors that will help you throughout your writing journey.
Writing Tools
Over the years, I've found that a good dictionary and thesaurus are vital to keep handy, and while I love thumbing through print books, they're not always ideal when you're on the go. That said, here are my favorite ones to use.
Merriam-Webster
My go-to dictionary and thesaurus. It's simple to use and automatically lists the U.S / British alternative of the searched word. The site also houses and medical and law dictionary.
Oxford Learner's
Like Merriam-Webster, Oxford Learner's offers American English and British English definitions, along audio of their respective pronunciations. A German-English option is available as well, but access to it requires the purchase of the accompanied print book.
Cambridge
If you're someone who enjoys learning other languages, this dictionary-thesaurus combo is perfect for you. As with the other options, Cambridge offers American English and British English, as well as dictionaries for over 20 different languages.
Word Processors and Formatting
When it comes to writing software, there are dozens available both online and as software. Since everyone has different preferences, it's hard to determine who has the best writing software in 2024, and which free word processors are worth exploring. Here are a few options available and their prices as of April 2024. These are all non-affiliate links, unsponsored links.
Google Docs: Free with an account, free and paid add-ons are available. Online and app only. With its autosave feature and automatic backups, it's great for writing, formatting, and sharing. If you're looking for a great alternative to Microsoft Word, this is perfect.
Microsoft Word: Free with an account, but paid features are available. Software available with subscription. Similar to Google Docs, Word has convenient autosave features, format and sharing options. Microsoft Word is a great alternative to Google Docs.
Campfire Writing: Limited options available with a free account with an extensive list of paid options available. App and software available for download to work offline. This was one of the first softwares I tried outside of GDocs and Word. I fell in love with the original software version which included all features for a very reasonable set price (discontinued). The new version still has next to everything you'll need to complete your manuscript, and with a modular breakdown, you'll only spend money on what you want and need.
Scrivener: Software only. Free Trial available. I've not had a chance to properly test this, but it's been highly recommended to me by dozens of authors across various genres. Some notable features include an formatting, an outliner, corkboard, and side-by-side views between chapters.
Grammarly: Looking for an app or software to double-check your work? Grammarly does just that. It's software can assist users with email, academic papers, and much more, while checking for tone and consistency. It has an app, browser add-on, and downloadable program. While it does offer a free trial, it's very limited and unfortunately the only other choices require a yearly commitment, with no options for a lifetime license.
ProWritingAid: Available online and as software, this tool is helpful for those who want to quickly check for issues in their manuscript. It compares your writing to other authors in the genre, and allows you to customize your own style guide, overused words and phrases, as well as readability. It has a limited free version. If you're aiming to purchase the lifetime license, I'd suggest getting it when it's on discount around the holidays.
Papyrus Author: Software only—has a generous free version and a subscription only version. Not many people know about this gem. I haven't been able to tinker around in it much, but it has the most customizable interface I've ever seen, and a ton of features. It's one of the most affordable options out there, with the subscription version mostly enhancing cosmetic features and removing some limitations. It also has options to format for ebook and print with the free version.
Atticus: Primarily a formatter, this software and browser app work seamlessly to help you design your final document. It has word processing capabilities, but from reviews on Reddit and other places, it isn't ideal for creating and managing large documents from start to finish. The formatting features a nice, but it has a small learning curve that may drive some users away. It doesn't offer a free version, nor a trial, but there is a 30-day money back guarantee.
Kindle Create: This software-only formatter is a fairly user-friendly app created by Amazon. Its export options are limited, but for those planning on publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing, it's perfect for making sure your book will look great on a Kindle. Best of all, it's completely free.
InDesign: Created by Adobe, this software can help design more than just books. With various features to stylize fonts and share your creation, InDesign is another decent option for finalizing your book. Despite its popularity, it's been said to have a steep learning curve, and is unfavorable for creating ebooks, with its print-formatting capabilities being superior.
Vellum: Another popular option amongst creators, Vellum is limited to Mac users. Since I don't own one, I can't comment on how well this formatting software functions, but I can tell you that there are two options available: one that's solely for ebook formatting, and another that grants you access to formatting for print as well. For further information, you'll need to visit their website or search YouTube for videos on Vellum.
Best Writing Websites 2024
Finding a platform to share your work with others can be exhausting. Some have been around for over a decade, making their readerbase difficult to penetrate for new users. I've broken these down into a few categories to help you decide which platform suits your needs. Here are a few free writing websites to share your work.
Best Writing Contests 2024
Finding the motivation to write can be difficult at times. Often times, writing prompts and sprints are a great way get the creative juices flowing, and other times, you just need a free writing contest to encourage you! Below are some of the best free writing contests to explore in 2024.
Drue Heinz Literature Prize
Another great literary contest. Unfortunately, it does have its limitations, but the 1st prize winner takes home $15,000.
Emily Dickinson First Book Award
Though this contest is limited to a full book of poems, it rewards its winner with $10,000.
J-Novel Club
This yearly writing contest usually opens in the fall and closes at the beginning of the following year. Entry is free, finalist are given an exclusive publishing agreement, and 1st prize is the opportunity to have Kadokawa adapt your work into a manga. For reference, Kadokawa is one Japan's largest publishing companies.
Kindle Storyteller
Offered by Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing, this competition is usually available by mid-year, and runs until the end of August. The grand prize is just shy of $25,000 USD, accompanied by an exclusive publishing deal with Amazon. Other regions have their own version of the Kindle Storyteller Award with a separate prize pool, with opportunities available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Tamil, and Hindi. You can find other Amazon Literary Contests here.
Writer's Digest
Not only is this website a great source for both new and seasoned authors, but they also host several contests, including those for poetry, short stories, and personal essays. Prizes range from $1,000 to $10,000 in cash, and a special spot in a future Writer's Digest magazine.
L. Ron Hubbard Writer's of the Future
If you're someone who prefers to write short stories and novelettes, the Writer's of the Future contest is perfect for you. The contests awards prizes every three months, and has a $5,000 annual grand prize.
Of course these aren't the only 2024 free writing contests available. You can find more at the links below!
https://www.pw.org/grants
https://codeless.io/contests
https://thewritelife.com/writing-contests
Important Terms
Advance: The amount of money a publisher gives you prior to publishing the book. Advances are repaid to the publisher through royalties gained from sales.
Bonus: Similar to an advance, except the money awarded is not expected to be repaid at all.
Contract / Agreement: The legal document you sign with a publisher, editor, or another service provider.
Intellectual Property (IP): An IP is the work created by an individual. This includes books, movies, scripts, artwork, music, and so on.
Net Profit: The amount of money available from net revenue after the deduction of costs. For example, if your contract said you get a percent of net profits, you won't receive a single penny until after the service provider makes back their investment.
Net Revenue: The amount of money available from sales, after the deduction of adjustments (refunds, returns, discounts, etc.). For example, if your contract.
AI Generated Art: Art that has been generated with artificial intelligence–oriented computer programs with little to no assistance from an actual artist. This software is fed examples of existing imagery, and uses an algorithm to copy the style based on text input from the user.
Computer Generated Art: Art that has been rendered with a computer program. This type of art typically has heavy input from actual artists. For example: Pixar and Disney animations.
Dust Jacket: A type of protective, removable layer, that goes over the main book cover.
Wrap Around: A cover that includes the front, back, and spine.
ISBN: Short for international standard book number. This unique number is given to all published books to help identify not only their origin, but edition and format as well. ISBNs, even if for the same book, cannot be shared between paperback, ebook, hardcover, and other forms of distribution. To find your ISBN distributor, check the list here.
Print on Demand (POD): A company that provides POD may offer other services than just printing, but for the most part, they'll take your formatted book, print it, and sometimes distribute it for the cost of printing, and sometimes a fee. Their prices are often cheaper than regular book printing services, and most are comparable in quality.
Blurb: A short section of text, usually found on the back of books and on their online sales page.
Summary: A section of text that tells readers about parts of the book. May include plot, characters, and other things.
Synopsis: A longer section of text that highlights important parts of the book, generally focusing on plot.
Different Types of Publishing
Trade / Traditional
Trade publishers are probably the most popular type. They usually have a wide audience, large marketing campaigns, and oftentimes, large advances or bonuses. In almost all cases, the rights to the book are completely signed away to the publisher. They are responsible for marketing, cover, editing, and many other things. Authors rarely get much say in the process. Publishers in this category include HarperCollins, MacMillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and Hachette Book Group. Royalties awarded to authors are generally very low since the publisher assumes all risk in production and distribution. In this situation, the author pays nothing to the publisher. They don't take submissions directly, instead only taking submissions provided by publishing agents.
Small / Independent
Indie publishers work with a much smaller budget and in turn offer smaller advances / bonuses, or none at all. They often function the same as a traditional publisher, but may be more lenient in the rights that they take. Some independent publishers allow authors to keep the rights to their IP. Royalties awarded to authors can be higher than trade publishers, but it really depends on your specific contract. They also don't require authors to pay them anything. Agents may or may not be required, but many indie pubs allow direct submissions.
Hybrid
With hybrid publishers, both author and publisher may fund production. The publisher may award higher royalties to authors who provide their own editing, marketing, cover, and so on. The author may pay the publisher, or contract a third party to provide the necessary services. Additionally, hybrids and indie pubs usually have a more customized experience for authors, as they tend to publish just a few books a year. Agents are rarely required, with direct submissions being favorable.
Vanity
These are not to be confused with hybrid publishers. Unlike other publishers, vanity pubs will take any and every book thrown at them. They will only provide services if an author pays them, and offer no support. Many vanity publishers do the bare minimum, oftentimes not actually providing the services paid for by the authors. In addition to that, they will also take royalties, and their services are ridiculously overpriced. They have a notorious reputation for being scammers, with some even refusing to pay out royalties. I'd suggest steering clear of them at all costs.
Self
With self publishing, authors are responsible for all costs, and unless your distributor takes a percent of the money earned, all gained funds go directly to you. There are cost-efficient ways to produce your book without sacrificing quality. The two things you should never do yourself unless you're exceptionally skilled at it: editing and cover design. The typical platforms for POD and self publishing are Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and Lulu.
Copyright: Protecting Your Creations
When sharing your writing and other creations to the world, it's important to make sure you and your work are protected. That's were copyrights come in. A copyright is a person's legal right to sell, distribute, and reproduce the work in question. The moment you start working on your project, it's protected by copyright, but in a court of law, you'll have to prove that you were the creator. In the digital age, that can be fairly easy, with things like cloud synced backups and Google Docs document history, but occasionally you'll need more solid proof, especially if you're planning on publishing through Amazon's KDP.
To establish a legally documented copyright, you should visit www.copyright.gov or your country's respective copyright agency. To make sure you get the official office, visit the World Intellectual Property Organization website and look up your country in their IP office directory.
If you're using the U.S. site, you'll be provided with several options. Each option requires the registrant to pay a fee, but on average, it costs around $65 per copyright. Other regions, like the UK and Europe, may not provide a copyright registration at all.
If you find that your work has been stolen or used without your permission, you can contact the website or entity that is using it and send them a DMCA Takedown notice. To learn more about how to craft a legally binding notice, visit the Copyright Alliance website.
But before you send a notice, you may want to ensure that the use of your work hasn't fallen into the Fair Use or Public Domain categories.
In a very short summary, Fair Use states that others may use your work if:
They are not claiming it as their own.
It's being used for educational purposes.
Use of the work does not interfere with the sale(s) or value of the copyrighted work.
The amount of the overall work being used without permission is reasonable. This one can be a bit tricky to navigate, because you, as the creator, don't get to determine how much is fair—this is almost entirely left up to a judge.
Creations that fall under Public Domain include:
Things that have expired copyrights
Works that have not had their copyright renewed
Works that are not protected under copyright, patent, or trademark laws
Anything created by someone who then makes the work available to the public for use and modification
If none of that applies to how your work is being used by the unauthorized party, you should contact a lawyer who specializes in IP and copyright laws, or contact your copyright agency for help.
You can read a more in-depth explanation from a lawyer's perspective here.
Self-Publishing
Coming soon!
Custom and Premade Cover Designers
Choosing an artist for your cover and illustrations can be tedious and time consuming if you don't know where to look. Below is a quick list of places to have your cover designed for ebook, print, audiobook, dust jackets, and other promotional materials. This list is organized from least expensive to most expensive and sites with unlisted pricings will be at the bottom. All prices are in USD, but make sure to read through the "Important Terms" section to know what to avoid.
MiblGroup
Between their three brands, MiblGroup provides services for covers (ebook, print, audiobook), dust jackets, box sets, marketing materials, author swag, and much more with unlimited revisions from actual designers, meaning no AI!
GetCovers.com
Cost: Starting at $10
Type: Custom
GetPremades.com
Cost: Starting at $75 (sale) or $130 (regular)
Type: Premade only
MiblArt
Cost: Starting at $220
Type: Custom (offers dust jackets)
Covers by Violet
Rena offers enchanting covers, as well as illustrations and maps. From her portfolio alone, you can tell she puts a lot of love into her work.
Pricing and Booking
Premade Cost: Starting at $99
Custom Cost: Unknown
Damonza
This site offers great covers, at a decent price, but they don't provide much information on what that price includes without forcing you to register an account with them.
Pricing and Booking
Cost: Starting at $175
Type: Custom
Stardust Book Services
What I like about th
Pricing and Booking
Premade Cost: Starting at $200
Custom Cost: Starting at $250
Type: Custom
EAH Creative
Emilie works to create absolutely gorgeous covers for various genres, and they're all stunning. I haven't had the chance to work with her yet, but I have seen and held a physical book for which she designed the cover, and it definitely does not disappoint!
Pricing and Booking
Cost: Starting at $350
Type: Custom, with options for dust jackets and box sets
Samples of her work can be found here.
AuthorPackages
Though their covers seem genre-generic, they look clean and professional.
Pricing and Booking
Cost: Starting at $350
Type: Custom
99Designs
Their collection of artists seems limited, but the talent is decent. There are no general prices listed, and the only way to get pricing is to pick an artist and ask for a quote. Judging by a popup I received when exploring, the covers seem to be pricey, and there's an additional 5% platform fee. Their search functions is lackluster, so they wouldn't be my first choice for a cover.
Search for a Designer
Cost: Unknown
Type: Custom
IllustrationX
This is one of the largest collections of artists and artwork that I've seen outside of DeviantArt and ArtStation. They have an extensive variety of art styles, including those for children's books. One downside is that you can only get a quote by calling or emailing them.
Catalogue
Cost: Unknown
Type: Custom
For other cover designer options, visit the links below.